Eugene Peterson’s initial response and his reversal a day later both generated criticism from fans of his many books, including his idiomatic translation of the Bible called “The Message.”
UPDATED: Evangelical author’s support for marriage equality draws fire from opponents
Southern Baptist fans of Eugene Peterson are questioning his salvation after he said in an interview he thinks it is possible to be both Christian and gay and, if asked, he would be willing to officiate a same-sex wedding. The next day the author retracted his statement.
Illumination Project seeks light, not heat, on controversial issues, task force reports at CBF
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is trying to do what few if any mainstream religious bodies have been able to do — disagree about homosexuality without splitting.
LGBTQ Cooperative Baptists say the time for inclusion is now
Cooperative Baptists who identify as LGBTQ and their allies said the time is now for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to drop its policy against hiring staff or missionaries who are openly gay on the eve of the June 28-30 CBF…
Group wants Southern Baptists to remove gays from ‘sin list’
Picketers at next week’s Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Phoenix will seek to persuade messengers and leaders to remove LGBT individuals from the “sin list” in the nation’s second-largest faith group. Faith in America, a North Carolina-based advocacy organization,…
LGBT-friendly student group sets up possible showdown between Samford and Alabama Baptists
Trustees of Baptist-affiliated Samford University are poised to vote on an officially sanctioned gay-straight alliance recommended by students and faculty, setting up potential conflict with the Alabama Baptist Convention. The convention’s State Board of Missions met behind closed doors May…
Baptist pastor says faith-based adoption agencies shouldn’t discriminate against gays
The pastor of a Texas Baptist church which recently went on record as welcoming and affirming of gays has opposed pending legislation to allow faith-based adoption and foster care agencies to refuse to place children with same-sex couples. In testimony…
Mississippi religious liberty law has day in court
An attorney defending Mississippi’s controversial law allowing state employees to refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and various businesses to deny services to LGBT individuals claimed in federal court April 3 that individuals challenging the statute should not…
Baptist church funds N.C.’s first homeless shelter for gay youth
Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C., has announced a $100,000 gift to help build North Carolina’s first homeless shelter for LGBTQ youth. The gift, announced March 30, will help Time Out Youth — a support and advocacy organization for lesbian,…